670 09evals

Yves Salomon: Anonymous end-of-semester evaluation of CrCrTh670, Fall '09
Response 55911111
Survey Page 0
1. Start with an evaluation of yourself

Think about your personal goals in taking this course -- Did you achieve them?
How would you have proceeded differently if you were doing this course again?
What have been your major personal obstacles to learning more from this course?
I would say I achieved more than I expected, but certainly would have been able to spend
another month on this course.
if I had it to do over, I would have created a pick list for each week, maybe printing out the
to do list. I missed two or three small items that surprised me when I saw they were
missing. I would be more assertive when creating groups.
Personal obstacles were large - covering a coordinator on leave, training 8 new staff
members, dealing with several computer problems at work, as well as new curriculum roll
out, all while taking the course. I did not underestimate but had things tossed my way after
the semester started. I generally start an online course as soon as it opens and begin
assignments, trying to stay a week ahead. Then when I know my job will impose on school,
I can keep up. That plan did not work with the way this course ran.
1. Self-evaluation (continued)
What have you learned about what you have to do to make an online course stimulating
and productive?
I have learned much about it - and so much I can employ now even though I do not teach
online per se. My excitement about new tools, toys, etc. was shared with colleagues
regularly. They are looking for ward to improving our courses along with me. The many
collaborative tools, the group engagement and visual enhancements really make a
difference in the experiences we have as learners.
2. General Evaluation
What was special about this course (+positive and/or -negative)?
How did the course meet or not meet your expectations?
In what ways do you think this course could be improved?
The wide variety of topics covered was very positive. The range of very serious to very
playful activities was also positive. Many of the readings will stay with me. I was really
worried that the course would be boring for me, but it was not at all.
A reading list at the start would be helpful for someone like me (who works long hours).
2. General evaluation (continued)

In what ways did your attitude to doing the course change through the semester?
How does it compare with other graduate courses?
What would be your overall recommendation to prospective students?
At times I felt left out. I need to develop a better sense of online etiquette (wimba, for
example) so I would say I have become more self-aware and reflective than before this
course.
It was the most unique grad. course I have taken and was rigorous enough. I was able to
draw from other courses I have taken in CCT which enhanced the experience for me.
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3. Evaluation in relation to the course description

Read the course description/goals below.
Comment on how well the goals expressed in the syllabus were met.
Make general and specific suggestions about how these could be better met.
This course considers the consequences of using computers to aid our thinking,
learning, communication, and action in classrooms, organizations, and social interactions.
Class activities acquaint students with specific computer-based tools, the ideas and
research behind them, and themes for critical thinking about these ideas and tools. We will
focus on the idea of information literacy in particular, as we seek to understand the
growing complexity that is taking place in the way that computers and digital technology
influence, and are influenced by, thinking and learning. This includes the need to use
critical thinking skills to make sense of the enormous amount of information that becomes
accessible through computers, as well as the way that various formats of information and
computer-based resources might support thinking and learning. We consider computers
in contexts such as collaborative thinking, applications to education and other fields, and
understanding ourselves in a digital culture.
I can say these goals were met. Even though some of the concepts were things we were
just beginning to grasp, the process of trying them was so much a part of the learning, we
could not help but understand.
Our class spent too much time and effort setting up groups. We learned how not to do it
and will likely not forget it.
4. Synthetic statement (1 or 2 paragraphs)

Building on your comments from Qs 1-3, compose a synthetic statement (1 or 2
paragraphs) evaluating this course. (Imagine readers who might not be willing to wade
through all the answers to Qs 1-3, but are willing to read more than simply the numerical
averages of standard course evaluations.)
Please make comments that help the instructor develop the course in the future and that
enable some third party appreciate the course’s strengths and weaknesses.
Among other things you might comment on the overall content and progression of
classes, the session activities, and the use of web-based technology to support the
learning in the course.
Learn by doing - with computers it is often the best way to learn. Computers can both make
tasks easier and confounding, depending greatly on our skills set and attitude. For those of
us who are competent but not confident in our computer skills, this course will be
transformative. For those who have achieved mastery level, there is so much more to
discover, this course should not be missed. This course is for both the tentative user and
especially useful for anyone who might be considering (or is already) teaching online.

Response 55966169
Survey Page 0

I did not have any personal goals entering into this course; I am leaving with more
awareness of computers and how it affects learning. I would have devoted more time to
thoroughly read through all the materials. Personal obstacles have been many
unfortunately, family, work, personal relationships have all affected my poor performance
this semester.
and productive?
I need to treat online courses like I treat in-class courses. I find it easy to get swept up in
life and forget about assingments in online courses. I need to focus more and not have my
personal life interfere with my schoolwork.
I was shocked when I heard that this was the first online course that Professor Szteiter
taught. His course was well organized, easy to navigate and instructions were very clear.
The only recommendation I would have is to have students choose from a list of research
topics and only have 1 or 2 able to do the same research topic.

It was a very insightful course. I found something new each week in the readings and
assignments. I thought that this course was more thorough than some of the other courses
I have completeld. I enjoyed it. I would recommend taking this course to any student who
is interested in technology and how it affects the world and education.


Based on the course description, I feel that the course met the description very well. Each
topic cited in the description above was discussed and compared.

The course was very educational. I enjoyed it and will utilize the knowledge I learned in my
personal life and in my work life. As indicated above, the only suggestion I would have is to
only have 1 or 2 people sign up for a final project topic at a time. The reason I suggest this
is because when the time comes for the presentations, all the hard work that they put into
the project could be covered by another student thus not giving them an adequate
opportunity to express their findings. Also, the individuals who are in the group listening are
not subject to the same topic more than once or twice.
The content was throrough. The articles and readings that were provided covered the
topics well and I felt like I had an understanding of what I was supposed to learn.
Professor Szteiter utilized various technologies in this course, technology that I was
unaware existed. I truly appreciate that.

Response 55973685
Survey Page 0

My personal goal in taking this course was to re-enter the world of education while still
working. I think I did a great job of completing this goal. I think, personally, the next class I
take will not be an online course- I think I really wanted the face to face interaction. It was a
little tough at first to get into the swing of an online course load, but I think I was able to
overcome this and give both the class and my full-time job full attention.
and productive?
I need to be open to all of the different tools that are offered during the course. I tend to
want to use things that I already use in my daily life, but by being open I was really able to
learn new skills and benefit!
I have never taken an online course so I don't know how to compare it to anything in that
regard. I liked how throughout the course I always felt supported by my professor and my
fellow classmates, despite never actually meeting them in person.

This was also my first graduate level course, as well as being my first online course. I think
my attitude stayed pretty much the same throughout the course, because I do consider
myself a driven and hardworking person. If it changed at all, it was to learn how to
communicate better with my group, how to be more patient and take all opinions for
consideration.


I think that the course did a wonderful job of meeting these goals. Jeremy introduced many
new topics to me and did a great job of backing them up with online articles, tools and
personal stories. Even though I may not continue on in this particular course work, I really
valued this class and everything that was brought to me.

I really have no suggestions on how to make this course better. I never felt rushed, like I
was doing things 'wrong' when I questioned certain assignments, or felt like because it was
an online class that I didn't really know my professor. Jeremy was always so quick to
answer emails and provide helpful suggestions. The course work, once getting into the
groove of completing it, was a good load and made me push myself to explore more about
our topics.

Response 55984267
Survey Page 0

I began to learn new and different things that I was never exposed to before. I probably put
too much on my plate and reached my personal threshhold for accomplishment, however
what I was able to take in given this capacity challenge was immeasurable. Time and an
inability to move past some of my own technical quirkiness.
and productive?
I need to engage with real people in realtime outside of the virtual classroom to bring the
data alive and to experience it first hand. This helps to solidify the learnings for me.
It was special because I loved the learning activities. Each activity further cemented the
idea behind the theries and ideas presented in the readings. I liked pre and post activities,
they let me know how much I was growing along the way. I think that hermits likemy self
should have alternative activities to linking up with the group online. I think the work load
was huge when realizing that most of the students taking the course are working full time. I
do not know how you make the class as rigorous and lessen the load but I think their was
entirely too much reading and it was interlaced for weeks and that made it virtually
impossible to move on with out understanding or completing the work before it. The build-
up of assignements eventual led to a slipery slope.

I loved it in the begining and loved it in the end. I actually think this one oorganically leads to
critical thinking. It challenges you on your own reflective levl so I works with what ever
space you are in when you join the course.


Maybe one or two assessments could be used to test if the information literacy was
comprehended after its initial intriduction. Other than that, I think the course goals of using
critical thinking for making sense of the enormous amount of information accessible
through the digital age was accomplished.

This is a must take before graduation and should be offered to every student as a gift for
graduation with a useful degree to go out into any additional fields of study and or integrate
into the working world. Their were things I learned in this course that have kind of put my
whole academic studies into perspective and I finally feel like I have joined the digital 21st
Century. Warning though it is not an easy load. If you are ready to buckle down and grow
with the class in real time this class is for you, but if not eady for a huge learning curve than
take it with a light load.

Response 56169347
Survey Page 0

My personal goals in taking this course were exceeded. If I were to do this course again, I
do not believe that I would proceed differently other than attempt to improve my time on
task. The time required to complete this course was more than twice that of any regular
graduate course. My major personal obstacle to learning was the impact of technology on
my learning curve. As a first time online student, the technology was often more trying,
frustrating and time consuming than the collective other aspects of learning.
and productive?
The stimulation and productivity of an online course are dependent upon the organization,
design and diversity of the readings and selected activities which consist of opportunities to
think, learn and reflect . While collaborative engagement would be more stimulating and
potentially elevate thinking, the technologies along with distance and time differences seem
to limit the possibilities.
The instructor's clarity of thought, level of questioning and high level of responsiveness
added much value to the course. The course was more self-directed and less collaborative
and constructivist in approach than I had anticipated. Providing opportunities to get to know
other online students earlier in the course would be helpful as would use of simulations and/
or other media.

As my technology skills improved and my comfort with the online format grew, I became
less anxious and more positive. The quantity of work added to the technology challenges
rendered the course more difficult to manage relative to time requirements when compared
to other graduate courses. My overall recommendation to prospective students would be
to take the course in spite of its demands on time.


The course goals were certainly more than adequately met. Efforts to provide activities that
acquainted students with tools, research and literacy and critical thinking themes were
obviously well conceived and thoroughly researched. The collaborative thinking activities
were too few and less effective due to the limits of the technologies and the participants'
availability.

Thinking, Learning and Computers is an integrated, well researched web- based and
demanding online course that makes effective use of cutting edge web tools and software to
provide students with relevant opportunities to explore the influence of technologies on
thinking and learning and learning through them. The course is well organized into weekly
sessions with clearly stated objectives, a variety of pertinent readings and pre and post
activities including guiding questions to scaffold reflections of the students' thinking and
learning. The instructor facilitates the course work with depth of knowledge, supportive
encouragement and stimulating feedback. The workload is text drive and heavy particularly
if this is a first online course and the student has limited technology skills. Students who do
not enjoy self-directed learning, reading online and measured structured assignments
should not enroll in the course. Students seeking more open ended collaborative and
personal engagements will not find the online environment satisfactory. On the other hand,
if students who wish to be challenged to think and learn through a variety of new tools and
reflective activities should not miss the opportunity to enroll.

Response 57161654
Survey Page 0

I wanted to get comfortable with an online learning environment because it was my first onli
ne class. More generally, I wanted to improve my computer/technology skills and increase
my confidence with unfamiliar web resources/tools. Yes, I achieved those goals. The
biggest challenge was the lack of verbal interaction/discussion. I could not evaluate my own
learning as effectively without the benefit of classroom discussions and listening to the
instructor.
and productive?
One must be proactive and initiate interaction with classmates. If you just go along and do
as little as possible, you may feel isolated and alienated from the group. Your learning will
suffer. It's important to stay on top of things.
The content of this course was very well selected and presented. All of the topics were
interesting and valuable. The class met my expectations, maybe even surpassed them. I
would have liked more Wimba sessions to discuss the readings. Or, used the article
discussion board or class wiki to create a forum to discuss the readings. We had so many
great readings and I rarely was able to benefit from the perspectives/thoughts of others, or
share my own thoughts. That was disapointing.

I was apprehensive at first. Over the course of the semester I got very comfortable and
enjoyed the online format. This class was very different from other graduate courses. In
other courses, I may go 2 or 3 weeks in which my only work is class attendance/
participation and reading. In an online class, there is always something to do. It takes a
different approach to time management. I feel that the workload was appropriate. Any less
and it would have felt like we were "getting off easy." Any more and I probably would have
been annoyed as my most valuable learning was self-directed. When you take into
consideration the time that would have been spent in class (not to mention the commute)
the online format was comparable to other graduate courses. Actually, I was impressed at
how appropriate the workload was. Just challenging enough and the activities and
assignments were valuble. I never felt like I was doing "busy work."


Goals accomplished!

A valuable course. Worth taking. The inherent limitations of the online format must be
considered and anticipated. I recommend this course and instructor. I enjoyed the class and
learned a lot. The goals set forth in the course description were systematically addressed
and accomplished. A job well done.

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Yves Salomon: Anonymous end-of-semester evaluation of CrCrTh670, Fall '09

1. Start with an evaluation of yourself

2. General evaluation (continued)

Page 7 of 18 Report generated by SurveyGizmo on Dec-29 '09

3. Evaluation in relation to the course description

4. Synthetic statement (1 or 2 paragraphs)

Page 8 of 18 Report generated by SurveyGizmo on Dec-29 '09

1. Start with an evaluation of yourself

2. General evaluation (continued)

3. Evaluation in relation to the course description

Page 9 of 18 Report generated by SurveyGizmo on Dec-29 '09

4. Synthetic statement (1 or 2 paragraphs)

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1. Start with an evaluation of yourself

2. General evaluation (continued)

3. Evaluation in relation to the course description

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4. Synthetic statement (1 or 2 paragraphs)

Page 12 of 18 Report generated by SurveyGizmo on Dec-29 '09

1. Start with an evaluation of yourself

2. General evaluation (continued)

3. Evaluation in relation to the course description

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4. Synthetic statement (1 or 2 paragraphs)

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1. Start with an evaluation of yourself

2. General evaluation (continued)

3. Evaluation in relation to the course description

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4. Synthetic statement (1 or 2 paragraphs)

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1. Start with an evaluation of yourself

2. General evaluation (continued)

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3. Evaluation in relation to the course description

4. Synthetic statement (1 or 2 paragraphs)

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